Obtaining a temporary resident visa and study permit

Students should make sure their passport is valid for the entire period of study. They must undergo a medical examination if their home country is on Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Designated Country list.

Details of how and where the medical exam takes place come by mail from the Canadian Embassy or the Canadian Consulate once you have applied. It may take up to six weeks to receive the results of the exam.

Temporary resident visa and study permit

Once you have received a letter of acceptance from a Canadian educational institution, you may begin the application process to get a temporary resident visa and a study permit.

Study permits are required for those planning to study in Canada for a period longer than six months. It is not necessary to make a separate application or pay a separate fee for the temporary resident visa. An embassy or consulate officer will issue it at the same time as the documentation you will need to enter Canada. In most cases, study permits are not issued until the student first enters and presents the necessary documents.

Recent changes mean international students enrolled in secondary schools can now obtain high school study permits, which are valid for a longer period of time. Under proposed changes to the current system, students will be allowed to transfer to different programs or institutions without having to change their study permits.